APER approved in WA, extended in Queensland

August 26, 2025

The AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) has expanded to Western Australia and been renewed in Queensland.

The APER program offers accreditation for engineers seeking professional registration as mechanical engineers working in HVAC&R and building services.

As a leading membership body in the industry, AIRAH has developed the scheme to ensure that those working in the sector are assessed by peers with specialist knowledge of this specific area of engineering.

Expanded coverage

AIRAH is now approved as an assessment entity in four jurisdictions: Queensland, Victoria, ACT and WA.

“In recent years, governments around Australia have recognised the need for professional registration to ensure engineers have the qualifications, experience and ethics to operate,” says AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH.

“AIRAH has strongly advocated for the introduction of professional registration regimes, and we are supporting them through the APER program – the only accreditation program solely focused on representing mechanical engineers working in HVAC&R building services.

“Those who engage engineers on the APER have the confidence that they have been assessed by peers with expert knowledge of our industry.”

AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH

Zheng says the expansion of the register to WA and its extension in Queensland solidifies professional standards in two of the country’s fastest-developing states.

“We are delighted to confirm that the APER program is now available for engineers seeking professional registration in Western Australia, and has been extended for a further five years in Queensland,” Zheng says.

“We have a strong community of HVAC&R and building services engineers in these state, and we look forward to supporting them with our tailored assessment scheme and continuing professional development offerings.”

What it means

For mechanical engineers in WA, a two-year transition periods begins on July 1, 2025. Registration becomes mandatory for mechanical engineers on July 1, 2027.

Registration is being implemented through the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011, which provide a framework to register building engineers, including prescribed qualifications, experience and competency requirements.

An application for registration as a building engineering practitioner in WA must include certification from an assessment entity approved by the Building Commissioner that the applicant’s qualifications and experience, considered together, are equivalent to, or exceed, the prescribed requirements.

About the APER

AIRAH is the only body solely focused on representing mechanical engineers and professionals in the HVAC&R and building services spaces.

The AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) is the professional accreditation for engineers operating in the HVAC&R building services industry. It demonstrates to the public that an engineer is qualified, competent, and ethical.

To learn more about the APER, scan the QR code.